Top Dawgs/Explorers take top honors-07.20.07

Brownsville, Texas—Students in the Brownsville Police Department’s Explorers program took top honors in the first competition in the history of the program.
“We’re all really proud of them. They did well,” said Police Chief Carlos Garcia.
The competition was held on July 7 at PSJA High School in San Juan. Six agencies from the lower Rio Grande Valley were in attendance. The program introduces interested high school students to law enforcement.
“We didn’t have the privilege of going to competitions,” said Connie De Los Angeles, an advisor to the program who was an explorer three years ago. “But (this group) is motivated and wanted to go.”
Students competed in events such as “burglary in progress,” where they had to enter a building, find three burglars and arrest them.
“You enter and you don’t know what’s in there,” said explorer Jesse Renteria.
“The program keeps them on the edge and teaches them correct procedure,” said Officer Mario Garza, also an Explorer advisor.

The Brownsville Herald


or in Spanish

BROWNSVILLE – Estudiantes del programa de Exploradores del Departamento de Policía terminaron con éxito la primera competencia en la historia del programa.
“Todos estamos realmente orgullosos de ellos. Lo hicieron muy bien”, dijo el jefe de policía Carlos García.
La competencia fue realizada el 7 de julio en las instalaciones de la preparatoria PSJA en San Juan. Asistieron seis agencias del bajo Valle del Río Grande.
“No tuvimos el privilegio de asistir a competencias, pero este grupo estaba motivado y deseaba ganar”, dijo la consejera Connie De Los Angeles. Ella estuvo en el programa hace tres años.
Los estudiantes compitieron en eventos como Robo en Progreso, donde tuvieron que entrar a un edificio, encontrar tres ladrones y arrestarlos.
“Entras y no sabes lo que encontrarás”, dijo el Explorador Jesse Rentaría.
El programa de Exploradores, con raíces en la Estación de Policía de Southmost, está enfocado a estudiantes de preparatoria interesados en la carrera de la aplicación de la ley.
“El programa los mantiene interesados y les enseña el procedimiento correcto”, dijo el oficial Mario Garza, también un consejero de los Exploradores.

El Nuevo Heraldo

Heart Institute accredited-07.20.07

Brownsville, Texas—A year later, the Heart Institute of Brownsville is still the only facility south of Galveston boasting an accredited echocardiography laboratory.

“(Accreditation) keeps us on our toes, making sure we are meeting national quality standards at all times,” said Emma Molina, echo supervisor for the institute.

The laboratory gained accreditation — after random site visits and much paperwork — in February of 2006, Molina said.

It remains the only accredited facility in South Texas.

“Being accredited is proof that you know what you are doing,” Molina said.

The actual procedure is much like a sonogram, but of the heart, she explained.

“As sonographers, we need to know what to look for in the heart, because whatever information we give to the doctor is what will be used in the diagnosis,” she added.

The Heart Institute focuses on adult care and currently has three sonographers, three echo procedure rooms and two viewing rooms, said Marketing Director Jennifer Koelle.

According to the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories, the site will be up for accreditation renewal in 2009.

“We will do it again,” Koelle said.

The Brownsville Herald

Harry Potter Midnight Release Parties-07.20.07

Local stores are preparing for the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows’ Ten years since the
first was sold the seventh and final book will be released July 21 at 12:01 a.m. to satisfy fans.
Everyone wants to know
what happens in the end,’
said Waldenbooks employee Erik Moreno.

WALDENBOOKS
Release party is from
11p.m. tol a.m. Approximately 1,000 books were pre-ordered, each sold at $20.99 (40 percent off). Bracelets to pick up preordered books are already available for pick up. All others available copies will be on sale for $24.99. Only a few more copies than the initial 1,000-book mark were ordered, Moreno confirmed.

BARNES AND NOBLE
Barnes and Noble at the
University of Texas at
Brownsville and Texas Southmost College Release party including invited Gladys Porter Zoo animals and movie showingsis from 11 p.m.tol a.m.
Only 50 copies will be available. Twenty have been pre-ordered, said Manager
Carmen Rodriguez.
Cost is $24.99.

WALMART
All locations will have midnight releaseslaunch parties start at 8 p.m. Books cannot be reserved, “first come, first serve” policy applies. Cost is $17.99

H-E-B
All locations will have midnight releases, launch parties are from 11 p.m. to 2 am. Books cannot be reserved, “first come, first serve” policy applies. Cost is $16.99, with an in-store coupon available.

The Scoop